Queen Camilla reveals why she has needed to scale down involvement in Qatar state go to as she provides an replace on her well being

Queen Camilla has told guests at Buckingham Palace that she has been suffering from pneumonia.

Buckingham Palace has until now described it as a nasty viral chest infection – which it is – but Her Majesty decided to give more detail today to explain why she wasn’t present at Horse Guards Parade.

She wasn’t hospitalised and has finished medication but is still suffering from side-effects including fatigue. 

The Queen missed the outdoor ceremonial welcome on a chilly Horse Guards Parade on Tuesday after being urged by her doctors to take more time to recover.

Instead, she arrived at Buckingham Palace shortly beforehand, giving a smile as she stepped from her car at the Grand Entrance.

Camilla, 77, waited for the Emir of Qatar and his wife inside, in the warm surroundings of the Grand Hall.

She contracted her chest infection after a long haul trip to Australia and Samoa and has pulled out a series of engagements since then, including the the Royal Variety Performance, the Gladiator II premiere and the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph.

Today, Camilla’s car was driven around the quadrangle to the Grand Entrance, and she smiled as she stepped from the vehicle and made her way into the palace. 

She waited inside to greet her guests but did not step outside because of her illnesses. 

Around the same time at Horse Guards Parade, Charles welcomed the Qataris for a ceremony of pomp and pageantry. A guard of honour was formed by the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards stood waiting in two ranks to be inspected by the Qataris. 

Earlier, the Princess of Wales and her husband Prince William had greeted Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher. 

Kate and her husband Prince William greeted Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the first of his three wives, Sheikha Jawaher, on behalf of King Charles III in London. 

Today’s events mark the start of a busier week for Kate, who will be hosting her annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on Friday.

The Princess is expected to be joined at that event by her husband Prince William and children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Camilla pulled out of today’s welcome at Horse Guards Parade on doctor’s advice with the Palace she is still suffering from the ‘lingering’ side-effects of a ‘nasty viral chest infection’.

The 77-year-old royal, who fell ill a month ago, is said to be feeling particularly ‘fatigued’ – but she will attend the lunch at Buckingham Palace and most elements of the State Banquet this evening.

So as not to exhaust her, she will greet their VIP guests and pose for photographs before retiring during a lengthy receiving line, but then join the dinner itself.

As for Camilla, sources stressed there was no cause for alarm, describing her as having had a ‘nasty viral chest infection’ which continues to ‘have some lingering side effects, in particular leaving Her Majesty with significantly diminished reserves of energy.’

As a result, they said, her doctors have advised some ‘tweaks’ to her programme.

Her decision not to join the King at Horse Guards Parade for a full ceremonial welcome and open-air carriage drive back to Buckingham Palace on a cold morning was a sensible precaution given the nature of her illness, they stressed.

Her diagnosis was first announced almost a month ago on November 5 when it emerged that she had been forced to pull out of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey, followed by other events over the weekend, including the Cenotaph, to honour the nation’s war dead.

As the daughter of a twice-decorated Second World War veteran, such duties are taken very seriously by the Queen – and her absence was a sign of how poorly she was feeling, sources close to her told the Mail.

Camilla has undertaken several public engagements since then, including the annual diplomatic reception, but has sometimes curtailed her time spent in public.

At a reception to honour the UK’s film and television industry last month, the Queen discreetly coughed several times during her shortened appearance and gratefully sipped on a glass of water, saying she had felt ‘absolutely rotten’ last week but was definitely ‘on the mend’.

Sources have stressed there has been ‘no alteration’ in any diagnosis or treatment being received, stressing Her Majesty just needs time to ‘rest and recover fully, which is more challenging with a back-to back diary programme such as the state visit’.

No substantial changes to her other diary commitments are expected the rest of the week, though each day is being taken as it comes.

Guidance from her medical team suggests that in such cases post-viral fatigue symptoms can come and go and persist for several weeks.

At tonight’s state banquet, Camilla will join photographs with the Emir and Sheikha Jawaher, but then retire briefly during the lengthy receiving line.

She will then attend the dinner as planned and join the King for the official farewells tomorrow.

Camilla has been praised for the way she has stepped up this year on behalf of her husband, after he was diagnosed with cancer at the start of the year and has continued to undergo treatment. Sources have described her as a ‘trooper’.

Today’s state visit is considered one of the highlights of the royal calendar and a show of royal ‘soft diplomacy’ in action.

Senior Qatari diplomats have told the Mail that they are ‘deeply honoured’ the King has chosen their country as the first Middle Eastern state to be invited for a full state visit to the UK since Charles’ accession.

The country enjoys a good relationship with the UK diplomatically, with the Emir, 44, having studied in Britain – first at Sherborne and then Harrow – followed by a stint at the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst.